Johnson, Fudadin put Jaguars on top

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Out-of-favour West Indies left-hander Leon Johnson missed out on a hundred but another Test discard Assad Fudadin was within reach of triple figures, as leaders Guyana Jaguars dominated day two of their fourth round contest against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force here yesterday.

At the close at Queen’s Park Oval, the visitors were 233 for three, a lead of only 23 runs but with seven wickets still intact heading into the pivotal day three.

Fudadin was unbeaten on 94 while Johnson struck 90 and veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul, 22 not out, as Jaguars batted the entire day to consolidate their position in the Regional First Class Championship game.

Assad Fudadin plays the ball behind square on the off-side on the second day of the fourth round match between Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Guyana Jaguars in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday at Queen’s Park Oval. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

Resuming the day on nine without loss in reply to Red Force’s 210, Jaguars had the worst possible start when they lost Shimron Hetmyer in the day’s third over without adding to his overnight seven, lbw to seamer Marlon Richards at 10 for one.

However, that was the end of the immediate success for Red Force as Fudadin and Johnson combined in a 138-run, second wicket stand to put Jaguars in control.

Fudadin, who played the last of this three Tests three years ago, struck six fours and two sixes in an innings that has so far spanned 234 balls and nearly 5-1/2 hours.

Johnson, meanwhile, surprisingly overlooked for the Windies’ last four Test series despite an average of nearly 40, produced an entertaining knock. He hammered seven fours and five sixes off a mere 132 deliveries.

He perished just before the hour mark after lunch, bowled by part-time off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine but Fudadin and Vishaul Singh, who scored 16, took the visitors to tea at 181 for two.

Singh fell to the fifth delivery following the resumption without adding as Red Force removed the in-form left-hander via the run out route.

However, Fudadin and Chanderpaul have so far put on exactly 50 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand to keep the defending champions on top.